...other than making the best telly he can?

As in, do we really think that he's anyone other than the producer, and that he's being swayed by anything other than how it's going to reflect in the ratings?

MisterAl hit on it when he said that there's a theme to each show - feelgood or edge-of-seat. Kinda says it's not about the player, so much...


discuss!

There is no doubt that the banker does make bizarre offers which are allegedly based on the style of the player and the things that he or she has said in previous games.

I personally think that the offers are tailored to get the most emotion out of the contestant, this makes good TV, which is what DoND sets out to be.

Each game & each player has a different attitude towards the banker and the game. I think it really depends on what they have said in the wings weather they have had respect, and weather they have been a dealer or a no dealer

I think thats what they'd have us believe - and they theme the shows accordingly to give us a tangible cause to champion and make good TV, but in reality I doubt the Banker tailors his deals that much past the main consideration of whether they are likely to be a conservative early dealer or more of a risk taker.

It'd be interesting to see what the offers were like after a run of big-win games (e.g. end of August) and after a time conisting low-win games (e.g. end of July).

The run of low-money games could cause lower viewing figures, so possibly after a run of low-money games, the banker changes his tactics to ensure more exciting games and therefore ensure the viewers come back?

And, after a run of high-money games, what does he do then? Change his tactics so that we see some trainwreck games to make it a bit different, and keep the viewer?

However, this would be less of a concern, as I reckon a run of high-win games are much more likely to keep viewers than a run of low money games.

IN the first few months, the Bankers offers were very plain. Boring 000's at the end of each number. The players stayed in their seats throughout the game, and there was no "COME ON!!!!!!".



The banker now offers some strange things..... SWAP..... Low Offers in the 1st round.......... £666

Also he continues on the same theme i.e £18... £1800.... £18018


With that in mind I think the banker is the producer or another member of staff - What about the crew in their Black T-Shirts... They are always near-by!

That never happens anymore. Even if the player takes out two of the powetr 5 in the first round they still get offered £10,000.

Oh, the banker is definitely more than one production crew - a team of them, for example.

Re the banker's offers, I agree that there are more themes these days - popping in .offfers from previous games, etc.

Also, the tactic of knocking a nought off - e.g.

"BANKER'S OFFER - £32
DEALT AT - £32,000"

Yes that has been a big tactic in the last couple of games when a player has dealt the offer is matched in some way of the last offer

I think there was a couple of odd things at the end of April after there was a run of 4 disastrous games (James, Clare, Dave E and Dot). First of all Richard was offered £13,000 on a board that I don't think warranted it (even though it did follow an all-blue round), and then Hilary wasn't offered a swap (as they knew she had £50,000 in her box?). Was that to ensure two happy games, as viewers would stop watching if every game was a disaster?

Another one I found odd was Daz (the one with £250,000 in his box). He was offered £45,000 on a board with the quarter mill and no back up, and was a no-brainer deal. Was that offer so high as to ensure the £250,000 wasn't won (as they knew it was in his box), as the show wouldn't be the same after it gets won?

i belive they didnt offer Gaz a swap either, because they might have knew that 100k was in his box

They did. It was edited out.

I think: The Banker = Glenn Hugill, Series Producer, DoND

Glenn has been an actor in the past, notably playing Alan McKenna in Coronation Street, and I'm sure that all the characteristics of the Banker that have been given are designed to throw us off the scent.

Yeah, there are a team of them... and Glenn is the one who speaks to Noel on the phone... and Glenn's an actor, hence the voice he puts on.

It is obvious that the Banker considers each player on their own merits. For example Jeff who was a gambler was offered much more money than some others who obviously were not when in a simular board position. The fact that the contetsants are all kept in a hotel and made to bound in the way they do means that their personalities are observer. I honestly don't want to know who the Banker is, surely not knowing is half the fun. However I convinced that they have a computer with all the statisicial probablities combined with what they know about the contestants and that is how the offer is reached. The banker is just the voice - and a very sexy on by all accounts!